Description
Zesty Italian Pasta Salad is a vibrant, crowd-pleasing dish that brings together fresh vegetables, savory meats, and a homemade Italian dressing for an explosion of flavor in every bite. Perfect for summer barbecues, picnics, or family gatherings, this salad is not only visually appealing but also incredibly easy to prepare. You can make it ahead of time, making your entertaining stress-free and enjoyable. With zesty pepperoncini, creamy mozzarella pearls, and colorful bell peppers, this pasta salad will have everyone asking for seconds!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb rotini pasta
- 3.5–4 oz pepperoni, quartered
- 4 oz sliced salami, quartered
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup black olives, drained and halved
- 1 orange bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- ½ cup finely diced red onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped pepperoncini
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella pearls
- Homemade Italian dressing
Instructions
- Prepare the homemade Italian dressing and refrigerate.
- Cook the rotini pasta in salted water until al dente; drain and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Pour half of the dressing over warm pasta and toss gently.
- Add remaining ingredients: pepperoni, salami, tomatoes, olives, peppers, onion, pepperoncini, and mozzarella; mix well.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving; toss with remaining dressing before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 30mg